San Francisco Giants - TeamReport

August 29, 2012|Reuters

MLB Team Report - San Francisco Giants - INSIDE PITCH

Guillermo Mota returned to the Giants after serving his 100-game PED suspension, and manager Bruce Bochy defended the move by saying the reliever served his time and shouldn't be penalized any further.

"Everybody makes mistakes. I do. You do. Unfortunately, we all do," Bochy said. "When you do, there are consequences. He paid the consequences, a pretty good suspension."

Bochy said the Giants believe Mota's story that the substance that caused the positive test came from children's cough medicine.

"So there was no question to bring him up," Bochy said. "What can you do, condemn the man for that? No, I wouldn't want to do that. You wouldn't want to do it. Your kid makes a mistake, you're not going to do it to them.

"While we don't endorse these guys who are taking PEDs, we also want to be known for being an organization that cares about the person as a whole, not just the player. He served his time. Now it's time for all of us to move on."

That's what Mota wants, too.

As a two-time offender to the MLB joint drug policy, he'd get a lifetime ban with another positive test.

What would he say to Giants fans?

"I wasn't suspended for steroids. I wasn't taking steroids. That's one thing," he said. "Second thing, I appreciate what they do for me. They support me. They're great fans. I can see that every game. They're good fans. They support the Giants. They support me. I want to say thank you for everything."

Mota didn't appear in the Giants' 3-2 win in Houston. Bochy said he could be used in a variety of roles, from long relief to late relief. Before the suspension, Mota was 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA.

He filled the bullpen spot of Jeremy Affeldt, who was put on paternity leave.

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MLB Team Report - San Francisco Giants - NOTES, QUOTES

--C Hector Sanchez is one of the few Giants hitting well in the pinch. His pinch single broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth, and he's 5-for-13 as a pinch-hitter. The team coming in was 25-for-141 (.177) in pinch-hitting situations. Before Sanchez got the game-winning pinch hit, INF Joaquin Arias hit a pinch double to tie the score.

--3B Pablo Sandoval and SS Brandon Crawford made the play of the game -- "Might be the best play I've ever seen," RHP Sergio Romo said. Sandoval overran a foul popup, hit the ball in the air and then hit it in the air again, this time much higher, and Crawford came out of nowhere to make a diving catch. "It looked better on the replay. It looked harder than it was," Crawford said.

--LHP Jeremy Affeldt was placed on paternity leave to be with his wife, Larissa, who gave birth Tuesday afternoon to the couple's third child, a boy named Kolt Kristopher. Affeldt can be on paternity leave three days, so he has a max of two days remaining.

--1B-OF Aubrey Huff, he of the .148 average and ample contract, will rejoin the team on Saturday, when rosters expand. He has been running the bases and taking some hacks. Manager Bruce Bochy has no big plans for the former slugger, saying he'll be used off the bench off and on. Probably more off than on.

--RHP Matt Cain pitched into the eighth inning, giving up two runs and six hits. He got a no-decision and is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in his last four starts. Against the Astros this year, he's 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts -- one being a perfect game.

BY THE NUMBERS: 15-5 -- Giants' road record since the All-Star break, tops in the majors.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't want to hear it. You've got to go out there and play your best ball. That's the last thing I want to hear." -- Manager Bruce Bochy on the Giants' so-called weak schedule. The Dodgers are the only team on their schedule with a winning record.

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MLB Team Report - San Francisco Giants - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Brad Penny (sore right shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 14. He will begin his minor league rehab assignment at Class A San Jose on Aug. 23.

--RHP Brian Wilson (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 27. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery April 19. He will start a throwing program in October, manager Bruce Bochy said, but the closer won't be ready to join his teammates in spring training for full workouts.

--RHP Shane Loux (neck strain) went back on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 7. He had been out June 26-Aug. 1 with the same ailment.

--1B Aubrey Huff (sprained right knee) was activated from the disabled list July 28 but then re-injured his knee running to first base July 30 and had to leave the game. He was put back on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 31.